TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – As Florida State continues to build itself into one of the best collegiate soccer programs in the country, it also has produced elite athletes that have gone on to find success at the professional level after leaving FSU. The 2016 season of the National Women’s Soccer League begins this weekend and the Seminoles will have 14 former players competing on nine of the 10 teams in the league.

FSU is tied with North Carolina for the college with the most former players in the NWSL for the 2016 season. Florida State leads all NCAA schools in the four-year history of the NWSL Draft with 10 overall draft picks and the Noles also top the country with six first-round selections.

The Washington Spirit, along with the new expansion team the Orlando Pride, each will have three former Seminoles on their rosters this season. Cheyna Williams (2014-15), Kelsey Wys (2010-13) and Tori Huster (2008-11) will compete with the Spirit, while the trio of Becky Edwards (2006-09), Jamia Fields (2011-14) and Toni Pressley (2008-11) will play for the Pride.

The Chicago Red Stars will have a pair of former FSU student-athletes on the roster for 2016 with Casey Short (2008-12) and Amanda Da Costa (2007-10).

Six of the seven remaining teams in the league will have one Seminole each this season – Portland Thorns (Dagny Brynjarsdottir, 2011-14), Boston Breakers (Kassey Kallman, 2010-13), FC Kansas City (Tiffany McCarty, 2008-12), Seattle Reign (Carson Pickett, 2012-15), Sky Blue FC (Kristin Grubka, 2011-14) and Western New York Flash (Michaela Hahn, 2012-15). The Houston Dash are the only team in the NWSL this season without a former FSU player.

The 2016 NWSL season gets underway on April 16 with a match between the Washington Spirit and the Boston Breakers at 7:00 p.m. Each team will play 20 games in the regular season that will run through the month of September. More information on the NWSL can be found at www.nwslsoccer.com.

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